SATURDAY, June 4 was to see Glaslough Horse Trials 1 run, however, in the preceding weeks a decision was taken to cancel both 2022 EI events, with a two-phase event being run instead. All classes were well supported with competitors travelling from as far away as north Donegal and all the counties surrounding Monaghan; the weather was ideal, dry and sunny.
The Maxi metre class started off the day, with competitors jumping a course of show jumps followed immediately by 20 cross-country fences and optimum time over the drumlin hills and included a number of fences prepared for the EI events. Smith Bros had a number of horses entered, with Steven Smith and Casey Webb having multiple rides. It was a hotly contested event, with show jumping and time penalties deciding the final places. The top four all finished clear, with three riders – Jason McKeown on ‘Harley’, Casey Webb on ‘Jessie’ and Lucy Toombs on ‘Ice’ all on the same optimum time of 4.38, with Ruby Proctor on ‘Little Autumn Bee’ posting 4.26. Davina Gray on ‘Hacklim Moxie’ picked up 0.4 time and Kate Shields on ‘Mel’ and Fiona Fitzgibbon on ‘Squeak’s Bubble’ were just over the time placing joint sixth.
The Midi 90cm class also included many of the event fences, ran over the same distance with the top six places being decided on clears and optimum time. Wendy Kirk on ‘Beware of the Bear’ and Laura Bell McKevitt on ‘Honest Will’ shared first place, ahead of Caoimbhe Eviers on ‘Gambit’ in third, while Donegal based Rachel Carton on ‘Aughavannon Merlin’ and Enniskillen rider Heather Williams on ‘Rossfad Ruby’ placed joint fourth, with local rider Michaela Donnelly on ‘Blue’ in sixth.
The Mini 80cm class was also hotly contested, with Derry’s Leslie McMorris on ‘Above & Beyond’ claiming first place on her first visit to Cloncaw, while local rider Orla Sheehan on ‘Bear with Us’ was just ahead of Greysteel rider Samantha O’Neill on ‘Moytown Joey’ in third. Local Orla Nesbitt on ‘Roxy’ and Downpatrick rider Mya McMullan on her new pony ‘Edenmore Apache’ placed fourth and fifth, while Enda Smyth on ‘Skye’ placed sixth.
The Minimus 60/70cm class ran over a shorter track with 16 fences. A few of the competitors and horses were competing in their very first two-phase event and all gained valuable experience. Claiming first was Jacqueline Burnside on ‘Lakeview Magic’, closely followed by Vicki Potter on ‘Jem’ and in third, local Maria Fitzpatrick on ‘Rockrimmon Buddy’, ahead of Lily Morgan on ‘Lough Melvin Dale’ in fourth, all under the optimum time. Fifth place went to Monaghan’s Sinead McNally Treanor with ‘Lexi’ and Fermanagh-based Mercedes Maye on ‘Springhill Luigi’ came sixth. both on their first trip round a two-phase at Cloncaw Equestrian.
Thank you to all who competed, the volunteers and officials who make the day run smoothly, the Bellew family team who pull out all the stops painting and preparing the courses. The next Two-Phase is on Sunday, July 3, with the first leg of the Premier Saddlery Two-Phase event League. Entries open online on June 12; other league dates are Sunday, July 31, August 14; final is September 18.
Details on Facebook Cloncaw Equestrian Glaslough or Glaslough Horse Trials.
RESULTS
Maxi class: =1) Jason McKeown, Harley; Casey Webb, Jessie; Lucy Toombs, Ice; 4) Ruby Proctor, Little Autumn Bee; 5) Davina Gray, Hacklim Moxie; 6) Fiona Fitzgibbon, Squeak’s Bubble.
Midi class: =1) Wendy Kirk, Beware if the Bear; Laura Bell McKevitt, Honest Will; 3) Caoimhe Eviers, Gambit; =4) Rachel Carton, Aughavannon Merlin; Heather Williams, Rossfad Ruby; 6) Michaela Donnelly, Blue.
Mini class: 1) Leslie McMorris, Above & Beyond; 2) Orla Sheehan, Bear with Us; 3) Samantha O’Neill, Moytown Joey; 4) Orla Nesbitt, Roxy; 5) Mya McMullan, Edenmore Apache; 6) Enda Smyth, Skye.
Minimus class: 1) Jacqueline Burnside, Lakeview Magic; 2) Vicki Potter, Jem; 3) Maria Fitzpatrick, Rockrimmon Buddy; 4) Lily Morgan, Lough Melvin Dale; 5) Sinead McNally Treanor, Lexi; 6) Mercedes Maye, Springhill Luigi.
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